Frequently Asked Questions::

Q:

"What is this place?"

A:

This is the official website of the MOFOS.

Q:

"What or who are the MOFOS?"

A:

We are a dragon boat team based out of down town Toronto, Canada.

Q:

"What is dragon boat?"

A:

The traditional Chinese sport of dragon boat racing is considered one of the fastest growing sports globally, and competitions take place around the world. The sport is very popular in Canada and we are fortunate to be able to race against a high level of competition here in Toronto. Awash with adrenaline, each dragon boat team (comprised of 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a steersperson) will compete against other teams to the finish line. The typical sprint race distance is 500m of heart-pounding excitement.

Q:

"What does MOFO mean?"

A:

To us, Mofo means ****** ******s.

(dan)

A:

To us, MOFO means "More Pho", our favorite post practice meal.

(matt)

A:

To us, Mofo means 'more fun'. The Mofos are a dedicated team of young professionals who are working to excel in the competitive sport of dragonboat, while having a tonne of fun. Through our solid performances and constant advances, we've garnered our fair share of both supporters and critics.

Thanks to all who have provided us with constructive criticism and jokes, we look forward to seeing you on the water.

(sara)

Q:

"Why did you start a dragon boat team"

A:

We were looking for a social yet competitive outlet that would let us enjoy the short summer season in Toronto! There is nothing quite like being on the water on a beautiful summer day, and being able to enjoy it with our friends makes it even better!

Q:

"How do I join the MOFOS?"

A:

We're always on the lookout for fit talent for our team! If you like what you see and are interested in finding out more about the team, click here to apply!

Q:

"What equipment do I need?"

A:

You don't need much to get started: just a change of clothes (practices tend to get splashy!) and water to stay hydrated during training. Some people like to purchase their own custom paddles and life jackets, but communal paddles and lifejackets are also available at the practice sites and regattas.

Q:

"How fit do I need to be?"

A:

There are dragon boat teams for all fitness levels. A chain is as strong as it's weakest link. We like to think our chain is pretty durable and we'd like to keep it that way.

Q:

"What is a Risto?"

A:

This is a surprisingly common question. Risto paddled with us from 2002-2006 and designed the previous version of our team website. The reason people ask is because the name Risto was in the domain name of our former website. That, and because Risto is an all-round great guy.

Q:

"I heard a rumour that this is all a rouse. The Mofo team does not paddle. Like the TV show BAYwatch they have some other crew doing their paddling for them.They just stand around and do dramatic poses. "

A:

The MOFOs were diligently at 'practice' and unavailable for comment at the time. Investigators later turned up time-stamped promotional photographs and videos of scantily clad MOFOs running along the beach friskily, although oddly enough no boat was in sight. The FAQ team would like to apologize for any inconvenience - autographed pictures of the MOFOs striking dramatic poses next to the boat will be available to the public soon.

(sara)

Q:

"Why are there so many anonymous posts on the dragon boat forums proclaiming your greatness?"

A:

Unfortunately the web page advertising and over-the-top hype is not done by us, and we can't control it. It's a practical joke to smother us with compliments in an attempt to incite a backlash amongst the paddling community. The compliments are designed to be so ridiculously over the top that they are sure to anger sensitive readers. Apparently, not everything one reads on the internet happens to be true! Luckily, it's also quite easy to tell they are not from us because nobody would ever say such things about themselves.

A:

What? You mean there really aren't legions of over-zealous MOFO fans waiting to fawn over Toronto's flexiest team? We were quite excited to have been honoured with, among others, nominations for:

• best team website
• hottest girls
• hugest guys
• hippest and most talented paddlers
• next step in human evolution and paddling

Q:

"Quit throwing parties and actually attend a few regattas outside of the GTA."

A:

In the concise words of Tracy, "I must dance!"

Q:

"You might have big guys, but can all these guys pull their own weight?"

A:

After lengthy deliberation we determined that:

Q:

When does dragon boat season start?

A:

We are on the water from May to early September, to coincide with the competitions and regattas around the Toronto area that take place between May and September. Some dragon boat enthusiasts may practice outside of these months but we prefer to be warm. During the winter months, the MOFOs get our requisite fix of flexing with weekly workouts and indoor pool practices a month before hitting Lake Ontario with a vengeance.

Q:

Who is the biggest MOFO?

A:

Q:

Have you ever won an entire regatta?

A:

Yes, after winning the silver podium spots (aka "bridesmaids") at each of the 2005 Waterloo, 2006 Halifax, 2006 Woodstock, 2007 TIDBRF Prep Race, 2007 Woodstock, 2007 Waterloo, 2008 Waterloo regattas, we finally won the 2008 Woodstock Regatta. For full race results, click here.

Q:

What's the best race you've ever had?

A:

This is a tough question. Quite possibly our best race was from the 2005 Montreal International Dragon Boat Race Festival. Early on in the day while we were still in the qualifying rounds we finished dead last 6th out of 6 teams in a heat filled with our rivals. To add insult to injury our time slotted us in something like the E division well below our peers. In those early days, we performed better every single time we raced and this was the first real disappointment we had.

It turns out that other teams in our heat filed a protest because the boats used in our heat were slower than the other sets of boats used in other heats. As a result of the protest, the entire heat would be re-raced using the faster boats.

Immediately the sense of disappointment turned to one of imminent vengeance. Although we came dead last and had a lane with a bad reputation for weeds (lane 6 at the Montreal Olympic Basin), somehow we felt like taking on the world. Bystanders would later say that they could sense an air of supreme confidence about us, even from the grandstands. It felt like beyond a shadow of a doubt we would turn our fortunes around. We blasted out of the gates with our patented old school slow stroke rate of around 50SPM (ridiculously slow by most standards but immensely satisfying to be able to get the entire body into the stroke). Indeed, the energy level never dropped and we ended up winning the heat. What a difference the re-race made - we finished the competition as the top ranked team from Toronto!

Q:

When did the MOFOS start paddling?

A:

The team started at the very end of the 2002 season, at the GWN Challenge. Most people had never even been in a dragon boat before our first race but we've never looked back since.

Q:

Are you professional paddlers?

A:

No, and there is really no such thing as a "professional" dragon boat team. Teams are sometimes sponsored by organizations who are looking to help promote Canadian sports. The MOFOs are honoured by the generosity of previous sponsors at various events, and would be thrilled to hear from like-minded organizations who are looking to support local sports and gain increased exposure in a highly desirable market. We are currently seeking both product and financial support; for more information please see our 2009 sponsorship package.

Q:

What's more important technique or fitness?

A:

To succeed in dragon boat racing, you need a combination of both. Solid technique is more important than fitness because it's easy to waste energy and nullify fitness if one paddles like a maniac.

Q:

I heard you are involved in charity work, what exactly do you do?

A:

As a core part of the MOFO philosophy, our team takes pride in being able to give back to the community that we race in. Throughout the year, we organize several volunteer events in support of local charity or non-profit organizations. Some of the organizations that we've had the honour of working with in the past include:

Q:

Where do people "do" dragon boat?

A:

Practices are held at a few different locations including Sunnyside Pavillion, Frenchmen's Bay, Outer Harbor, and TSCC. There are many races hosted in and around the GTA.